Press Release: Flaff 2013

FILADELFIA LATIN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL OPENS ITS SECOND YEAR WITH SUNDANCE WINNER “VIOLETA WENT TO HEAVEN” AND CLOSES WITH “AMERICA”, STARRING AWARD WINNING ACTRESS, YARELI ARIZMENDI

Additional Premieres: “The Unique Ladies”, “7 Cajas”, “Lemon”, “Paal”, and “Mi Primer Amor”
Saturday, April 27th at International House &
Sunday, April 28th at the Elaine C. Levitt Auditorium, Gershman Hall, University of the Arts

Philadelphia, PA (Monday, April 8, 2013) – The Filadelfia Latin American Film Festival (FLAFF) opens its second year with VIOLETA WENT TO HEAVEN, the extraordinary story of the iconic poet, musician, and folksinger Violeta Parra, and concludes with AMERICA, the story of a young woman living in Vieques, Puerto Rico who is abused by her husband and decides to change her life and save her children by moving to New York. Tickets are now available online at flaff.org

FLAFF kicks off on Saturday, April 27 with the presentation of THE UNIQUE LADIES, San Diego’s only all women’s lowrider car club, at International House, followed by a discussion with film maker Gloria Maria Guadalupe Moran. Opening day on Saturday, April 27th, including additional premieres, discussions, and a reception will take place at International House, 3701 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, 19104. Closing day on Sunday, April 28th will take place at the Elaine C. Levitt Auditorium, Gershman Hall, University of the Arts, 401 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, 19102.

FLAFF also presents additional premiere screenings of: 2013 Miami Film Festival Audience Award Winner 7 CAJAS, an action thriller about Victor receiving an unusual proposal to carry 7 boxes of unknown contents through Market Number 4 but things get complicated along the way; 2011 DOC NYC Special Jury Prize Winner LEMON, the raw story of three-time felon and one-time Tony Award-winner, spoken word artist Lemon Andersen; Chile’s 2012 Arica and Parinacota Rural International Film Festival Winner PAAL, the story of Memo, a Mayan child, who tells the story of his people through his own vision and fantasy; and Antonio Bandera’s 2012 Make it Short Competition Finalist MI PRIMER AMOR, the story of a 10-year-boy who wants to explore and learn about his older cousin and platonic love who lives in the same house. In addition, two short documentaries showcasing the experiences of restaurant workers will be shown, followed by a panel discussion with members of the Restaurant Opportunities Center.

“This year’s program offers an assortment and timely selection of both new and old voices. This year’s line-up goes beyond telling Latino and Latin American stories; they narrate the human experience,” said Beatriz Vieira, co-founder of FLAFF.